MEETING BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE AND
SENIOR BRITISH MILITARY REPRESENTATIVE - IRAQ: 14 JUNE 2004
The Secretary of State met with Lieutenant General J McColl, SBMR-I, during
his visit to Basrah on 14 June 2004. In attendance was Paula Hothersall,
POLAD, and Arfan Choudhry, Iraq (Sec) 1.
McColl opened the meeting by highlighting recent developments in relation to
Security Sector Reform. The strategic review, as proposed by Major General
Houghton (ACDS(Ops)) would provide an overarching structure for the various
strands of Iraqi security forces. The US Office of Security Transformation is
currently developing this work with a team from the UK MOD. The Secretary of
State commented that following his meeting with the previous Iraqi Defence
Minister (Dr Ali Allawi) it would be important to ensure that the Iraqi MOD was
engaged in the process and felt that it would have some degree of final
ownership. McColl confirmed that two Iraqi staff officers were involved but the
item was essentially a US lead. On the issue of the security relationship and
partnership with the Iraqis, the Secretary of State asked for a summary of
points that he could usefully raise with Rumsfeld, which should include
outstanding CPA and SOFA issues.
McColl gave an overview on security. The latest actions against Muqtada al
Sadr (MAS) and his militia in Karbala and Najaf were going well as a result of
effective, sensitive and targetted US operations.
Turning to Fallujah, McColl felt that the policy of containment of FREs, loyalists
and possibly Al Zarqawi seemed to be working; the Fallujah Brigade had
however experienced some casualties. There is considerable pressure on the
Fallujah Brigade to deliver results and Prime Minister Allawi is keen to build on
Kara Owen
PS/Foreign Secretary
DECLASSIFIED

anthonore,
Mccons impression was that Iraqi Security Forces were
becoming increasingly effective.
The Secretary of State asked whether it would be feasible to hold elections
now; McColl answered that he felt that it would be possible but the significant
practical difficulties it would pose would be serious. However, by 30 December
the Security Forces would be in place to patrol the polling stations. Combined
with the promised $18.4Bn assigned by the PMO for economic development
this added to the sense of optimism. McColl did however make the point that
the challenge of protecting around 30,000 polling stations should not be under-
and it was still not clear when the funds would actual funding to be in place
7
Moving on to the question of whether the HQ ARRC and a further brigade
should be deployed to Iraq, the Secretary of State commented that the basic
issue was whether we should go outside of the current UK area of operations.
McColl's view was that the UK should deploy HQ ARRC and a further brigade
'. General Abizaid had
to support the US who in his view were "suffering"
commented recently that he had already asked for HQ ARRC six times. The
Secretary of State expressed some surprise at this; there had been no official
approaches made to him on HQ ARRC (this was borne out in SofS's
conversation with Rumsfeld on 15 June. Rumsfeld was going to speak to
Abizaid on whether the ARRC was needed). The Secretary of State asked
McColl what difference and benefits additional deployments would give us.
McColl's view was that a UK deployment would allow us to conduct operations
in MND(CS) from a UK perspective. The risk was that with the replacement of
the current US unit in place (18 Armoured Division) then the potential for a
decline in the security situation was very real. McColl stated his view that if we
did not deploy additional troops there would be a higher level of risk to troops in
Iraq and a further risk to the strategic mission.
The Secretary of State asked if McColl felt he was receiving the necessary
support and assistance. McColl replied that he was content with his position
but that the issue of increasing UK influence on the US was becoming
"embarrassing". The positions that the UK held in the various HQs (and hence
the influence) was disproportionate to our overall troop deployment and
financial contributions. He was very content that the UK voice was heard.
DECLASSIFIED

(Yours]
M P NAWORYNSKY
Private Secretary
DECLASSIFED

DECEASSIFIED